Choosing a Bengal Kitten for First Time Bengal Owners
Choosing a Bengal Breeder is just as important as choosing a Bengal Kitten. Be sure to do your homework. Developing a good relationship with a credible and dependable breeder will ensure you are buying a healthy, well socialized kitten as well as allow you to gain first hand information from a knowledgeable and trustworthy source. A reputable breeder will be able to answer all of your questions and concerns thoroughly and happily be available after your purchase.
Beware of kitten mills and kitten producers where they produce kittens in mass quantity. Your questions will go unanswered and the kittens will not be as healthy or as personable.
At KotyKatz Bengals, we will be more than happy to help in finding the perfect Bengal Kitten for you and your home. You can be sure that your kitten is healthy and well-cared for. We will guide you every step of the way by answering any questions and introducing you to our entire Bengal family of both kittens and adult cats. If there are any problems that may arise concerning your Bengal we are always be available to guide you in any situation. We have a genuine passion for raising Bengal kittens into adult cats, and providing the care and love for each of our Bengal kittens.
Bengals : Is a Bengal right for you?
Are you in the process of deciding if a Bengal cat is right for you and your household? Taking on a new pet is big enough decision to make! Our pets are also our family members! Make sure the Bengal personality is one that will fit into your home.
The Bengal Personality
Bengals are very active, athletic, and fun loving cats. Because of their highly social nature they usually do better with a partner in crime. Be it another energetic Bengal/cat, dog, child, etc. Bengals love to play! Interactive toys are best…..or any toy…..or anything they can make a toy. They also love to climb, so having several high spots where they can perch will make them feel like king of the world!
This breed of cat is also extremely intelligent and can easily be trained to do tricks and even walk on a leash! They can also be very vocal when they want something.
The Bengal cat is known for her love of water. Some like to swim, hang out in the bathtub or shower with you, play in their water bowls, or in your dishwater! The Bengal loves it when you leave the faucet on and appreciate a drinking fountain.
Although Bengals can be a lot of fun, they can also be mischievous and can sometimes be challenging. Bengals who find themselves to be bored can display unusual and sometimes destructive behavior. They’ve been known to turn on and off light switches, open doors, shred your paper towels or toilet paper, and knock over drinks.
I’ve decided I want to add a Bengal to my home. Now what?
Now that you’ve decided to make the commitment and add this new family member you will want to decide on sex, pattern, and color. Would you prefer a male or female? Would you prefer spotted, rosetted, marble, or charcoal? Some do not know this, but the look of charcoal is a pattern rather than a color. Charcoal can be in addition to all of the colors. Colors are a bit more difficult to decide. Not only are their several standard colors including brown (which can be every shade of brown imaginable), silver, silver seal lynx, seal lynx, seal minks and seal sepia there are also non standard colors like blue, melanistic, cinnamon, chocolate, etc. I could go on and on but I’m sure you get the idea!
Bengal Kittens: Should I choose a male or female?
As with most animals each kitten has their own individual personality regardless of sex and they don’t always fit into the typical mold. While genetics definitely play a role, much of a Bengal’s individual personality develops while they are kittens through their interactions with people. Starting with those interactions in the breeder’s home and then with you, their owner. Take into consideration your current pets and how they will adjust to the new family member when deciding which kitten is for you.
Bengal males are usually larger than Bengal females. The average male can be from 12 – 16 pounds while the females average from 7-12 pounds. Males tend to be more of a lap cat while females can be more independent. But that said some of the friendliest Bengals in my house are females! Bengals are considered an active breed meaning they are higher in energy and activity level than most other domestic breeds of cat. Their energy, combined with the intelligence of a Bengal can make it necessary to take similar precautions to childproofing your home. But like I said, they are also individuals so you’ll learn some things as you go. IE if you have expensive knick knacks or antiques….you might just want to tuck those away for a while.
Your best bet at determining the personality of your future Bengal is to visit with the Bengal breeders you are considering. Different bloodlines can have slight differences in temperament, as well as appearance. This will also give you a chance to ask questions and maybe see some available kittens. Who knows, one might chose YOU.
Bengal Kittens: How much does a Bengal kitten cost?
Here at KotyKatz Bengals, we price each kitten individually based on how well they fit into the Bengal breed standards (TICA), color/pattern, and age. There are three main categories :
- Pet Quality Bengal Kittens – Though pet quality Bengal kittens may not fit perfectly into the Bengal breed standard, they are still beautiful and have the wonderful Bengal personality and intelligence. Many times you can not even tell why the breeder is letting such a beautiful Bengal go as a pet. The differences may be so minor you won’t care.
- Breeder Quality Bengal Kittens – Breeder quality Bengals are ideal for passing on specific traits and also fit better into the standards for the Bengal breed.
- Show Quality Bengal Kittens – Show Quality Bengals are those whose appearance and structure are what the Bengal breed standard calls for in our breed. They are considered the cream of the crop and when you look at a room full of Bengals, they are the one that stands out.
Keep in mind that owning a pet, any pet, requires more than just the initial purchase price. High quality food, litter, toys, routine vet visit or emergency vet visits must all be taken into consideration. You will want to make sure you have an adequate source of income to care for your new family member. Another option you may consider is pet insurance to help cover medical costs. On average Bengal cats cost no more to maintain than other domestic cats but remember, they are living breathing creatures and that is a responsibility to take seriously. Hopefully you will have your best friend for the next 15 to 20 years!
Bengal Kittens: Final Considerations
Owning a Bengal cat is a lifelong commitment. Always consider the Bengal cat breeder who takes care of your Bengal cat before you bring him or her home. In him or her lies the correct upbringing and health foundation of your Bengal Kitten.
Please be sure to only purchase your Bengal from a breeder who does the proper health testing. This will better our Bengal breed by controlling the inheritance of or eradicate the following conditions:
Progressive Renal Atrophy (PRA)
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency (PKdef)
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)
These are very simple steps to take. PRA and PKdef are one time only tests to insure that the parents do not have and do not pass on these problems. They are not outrageously expensive tests. Please please DO NOT let any breeder try to reason their way out of doing these simple things. There is no good reason not to do them, period. It is one of the things that go into being a responsible breeder.
Choosing a Bengal Kitten
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